Updated 6/10/20 at 3 pm. The governor has just extended Hawaii’s mandatory 14-day isolation through July 31 without much further clarification. We still don’t know when it will end.
In the meantime, Lieutenant Governor Josh Green has said a deal may in the works for CVS pharmacies to provide tests to Hawaii bound travelers. Questions remain who will pay for those tests. Will it be passengers, the state, or some combination of both. And, will both the tests and results be readily available in order to comply with the anticipated 72-hour timing required. On just checking CVS’ website, we found that testing for travel is not yet available. Lastly, Green said he thinks the system could have been in place which would have allowed the restart of mainland tourism as soon as July 15.
As Green pointed out, the ultimate decision on travel is in the governor’s hands. Ige said there will be a layered approach coming with the reopening, whenever that is, and he again mentioned the controversial subject of safe travel corridors. This comes after he said last week that he would address the reopening of mainland travel this week.
Hawaii officials are continuing to suggest they would like, but will not be able to mandate, that visitors be tested 3 days prior to arriving. Testing would eliminate the 14-day isolation required for arrivals. We’ll have to wait until later this week to learn exactly how this may come to fruition. In the meantime, we have a very good idea of what you can expect.
Alaska reopened to tourism this past Saturday. Hawaii’s southern neighbor French Polynesia announced its July 15 reopening plans this week too, and while there are differences, there may be some distinct similarities to these in Hawaii’s approach.
How is Tahiti reopening?
As of July 15, mandatory 14-day isolation will be eliminated. Instead, Tahiti will require testing before travel. They also plan to test visitors randomly during their vacations and track their whereabouts. Test results will need to be presented to airlines prior to flight. Immunity certificates will also be accepted. Testing on arrival will not be offered. We’ve heard that flights to Tahiti may be limited initially. We’re not sure, for example, when Hawaiian Airlines will resume flights from Honolulu to Papeete. Flights to Tahiti are international of course, and thus different rules can apply there compared with US domestic flights to Hawaii.
Will Hawaii follow Alaska’s model? If so, this isn’t going to be easy.
Starting last Saturday, Alaska requests that visitors test within 72 hours of travel to Alaska and present the negative results upon arrival. Their health department says, “We really want this to be easy… Get tested before you travel. Have your negative test result. Complete the travel declaration. Flow through this airport.” Remember though that you could well be sitting on a plane with passengers who have not been tested as testing cannot be a requirement of domestic travel.
Alaska is also aware that in many states, testing still isn’t available unless you have symptoms. That’s a problem. Also, the time it takes for test results varies greatly. We just checked with Hawaii Pacific Health, and they could not confirm that testing is available yet for travelers from Hawaii to Alaska.
If you aren’t able to test prior to arrival in Alaska, you must self-isolate until a negative test result can be obtained. Or, if you have a test, but it is within 5 days (not 3 days) prior to arrival, you won’t be required to isolate, but you’ll be asked to have minimal contact with others until results are returned. If you do test in Alaska, results are apparently being returned in about 48 hours, on average.
Making it all the more confusing, there are different rules for returning residents. In any event, all travelers are required to fill out a new Alaska health declaration form.
What’s different in Hawaii?
Unlike Tahiti, Hawaii’s visitors are largely domestic. What a state can require for travel from another state is limited and may be further tested in lawsuits. Hawaii cannot mandate testing as a prerequisite for boarding a flight. This means that a required 14 isolation period is likely to remain for those who do not have proof of testing. That appears to be the state’s direction, as was Alaska’s, although how that 14-day period would be enforced with a significant increase in the number of visitor arrivals, is far from clear. Remember too that some officials have contemplated a Hawaii travel bubble with other countries. We don’t know what might happen to that controversial idea.
Is testing a viable first step to reopening Hawaii tourism?
The feasibility of implementing such a practice to tens of thousands of arrivals, either before departure or on arrival, remains questionable. And 14 days locked in an accommodation, not even able to buy groceries, is not feasible. As we’ve mentioned before, Oregon and Washington don’t yet appear to have pharmacy testing available, and while California does, will it be adequate if required on a larger scale, such as for travel?
There are perhaps 1/2 million tests available daily in the USA for all purposes, whereas more than 2 million passengers a day would typically pass through airports alone. Scaling those numbers down for Hawaii, availability of testing may still not be adequate currently.
Beyond that, tests three days before travel raises additional questions. Experts say that some false-negative tests could permit infected passengers to enter. Nor would you be protected from potential exposure occurring on a domestic flight to Hawaii.
Testing won’t replace other new health safety measures.
This includes maintaining appropriate distances, masks, temperature screening, and greatly enhanced procedures that include disinfecting and cleaning. That will include everything from airports and airplanes, to Hawaii hotels, car rentals, restaurants, and more.
Fewer Hawaii arrivals could help at the start.
It is likely that at the beginning, given obvious concerns and unknowns, visitors to Hawaii will build slowly over time. That could give us the ability to adjust and come to terms with the new normal and establish longer-term, appropriate procedures. In the meantime, Hawaii travelers are going to need to be comfortable with distancing, and other health protocols for the foreseeable future.
We look forward to hearing from you. Mahalo.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Thanks for your input people. Do your own research. There is a political agenda here. And we are all suffering. Take the FEAR out of the equation. Time for the people to be heard and not led around by, like you stated, so called experts!
Thanks BOH for reporting the facts as they happen.
Take care everyone!
Hi Nancy.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Has anyone else scene he proposal form some doctors and and others on Kauai, to do a regimen of at test then some days of quar antine in a quar antine hotel and then another test before even returning Hawaii residents would be allowed to move around the islands?
Mahalo
Hi Bill.
Except in the smallest numbers that would be completely unmanageable. Even the current situation is truly unmanageable and isn’t being completely adhered to by residents or visitors.
Aloha.
Aloha Beat of Hawai’i 🌺
Has there been any additional information released yet on the re-opening of Hawai’i?
I’m getting information that the discord between the Governor and the Lt Governor is getting pretty intense.
Mahalo for being the best source of information on the Islands!!
You guys are awesome.
Hi Pam.
We hope to have more information for you soon.
Aloha.
Did the 14 day quar antine get extended until August 1 now
Thank you
Hi Gregory.
Yes, it did. But you might want to check our most recent post for interesting new developments.
Aloha.
So just what is the plan if we NEVER get a vac cine? The reg. flu vac cine is never 100% not even close. Better to go out on my (70 year old) feet than live on my knees. Remember the same experts who got us here are the sameones saying it is just around the bend.
The medical experts in the US have done a great job. When they are allowed to. What does “the same experts who got us here are the same ones saying it is just around the bend.” mean? No real expert has implied that there was going to be a quick solution to this problem. And no experts got us into this crisis. What got us into this crisis was citizens who refuse to accept any limits on their personal desires, who went around infecting other people. There’s nothing brave about that.
If the 14 day quar antine expires July 31.how we looking for September 29 so far
Thank
You
Hi Gregory.
It looks good as far as we can tell. We’ll have some updates shortly.
Aloha.
My wife working in the hospital and she did a test, after 24 hours they gave her the results !!!
So if there’s 24 hours testing why they not opening yet it’s to frustrating and you can see it’s political decision no more then that
Okay, this is getting a little ridiculous. August 1st? People need to work and Hawaii needs the tourist dollars. If the Governor waits too long many businesses will never recover.
Especially since that supplemental 600 dollar a week unemployment runs out at the end of July.
i support the 72 hour c0vid testing. this would help the economy and allow tourism to safely restart. I hope this is implemented. I have a trip planned August 15. It was rescheduled from May and the Marriott and Delta refused to refund me. I had to reschedule before Dec 19 and the august date was the only available date Marriott would give me. SO if this doesnt pan out, I am out money. I was unable to get a refund on my rental car from May. The hotwire person I spoke with reminded me that I had made a non refunadable non changeable sale. First world problem… but still. Here’s hoping against hope for c0vid testing to allow travel there without a quar antine!
Geez…american airlines was very flexible…and all hotels involved were accommodating. I never go the way of non refundabke except with airline…but there had no issue as i said. Our trip was postponed from april to june to fully refunded from all travel partners. Good luck. Did you not have right to say no to a voucher and get tbe full refund? And car rentals are usually no problem. I ways deal directly with travel partners especially for unforeseen gliches…like this! Death and illness are the usual concerns but pan demics should be added, like Sars impacted some travel.
Delta said we weren’t eligible for the two year voucher or for a refund. It was so frustrating. Turtle Bay was great and fully refunded what i had prepaid. Hanalei bay was also fantatsic. It was basically Delta, Marriott and dollar that are screwing us over. I hope we are a go for august 15 but am cautiously optimistic.
If the quar antine is extended, they have to issue you at least a credit voucher !
One thing many of us have learned from all this is who to not do business with. From your comment, I will be very very cautious about both Delta and Marriott in the future. (From my own experience, I would be careful with Alaska Air but I would recommend Captain Cook Resorts without hesitation – very cooperative and full refund minus $100 booking fee, which they will apply to a future trip in 2021.) I hope everyone remembers who treated them right during this pandemic. And that includes politicians and officials who put human lives (permanent loss) against temporary economic loss.
So when will the Governor announce whether those with reservations August 1 and beyond can keep their travel plans ? If he just extended the quar antine through July 31 on June 10 That’s only 3 weeks or less notice . How unfair . If we need to wait until July 10 to know if we can travel Aug 8, we may not even get our money back nor find a new travel destination so last minute . If you’re developing testing program , there’s no reason to further the quar antine . It’s clear this Governor is going well beyond normal caution and has a serious phobia of other domestic citizens , who he considers dirty diseased and second class, even though we are willing to submit to testing . So disturbing .
Aloha and good morning! I read BoH every time I receive one or see a post on FB. One thing I have wondered about and thought I’d ask – my best friend’s (adult) daughter lives on Big Island and my best friend own a lot there (she is not a HI resident) – she says she heard (and this is the question) that if she’s traveling from the mainland and going to stay with family (daughter) she would not be required to quar antine. Would you know if that’s true. Is there a website that has all the ins and outs of Hawaii’s restrictions?
Mahalo and looking forward to my next visit…even if it’s a year (or more) down the road.
Hi Tea.
We appreciate all of your comments. Yes when you’re staying at someone’s home, the 14-day requirements are unchanged. That is certain. Not sure if any site has all the information, we find it confusing ourselves.
Aloha.
Unless you have a non-stop flight to Hawaii with no other connecting flights, testing would be worthless. At the moment we have one other city we have to fly in to in order to get a flight to the islands. With reduced flight schedules, that could increase to two or more connections for the foreseeable future. The people you who are traveling to other destinations that are on your connecting flights could very well have the virus. Good luck in trying to implement mandatory testing. The FAA cannot keep a person off the flight who may test positive, so the rest of the passengers are still exposed. Does that mean the other passengers are going to be required to quar antine because of the one who might test positive or who maybe just has a slight fever due to a cold or allergies? Thinking that testing is going to be the miracle answer is wishful thinking at best.
My daughter lives in a remote part of Maui currently not accessible except for locals and they have been wise to protect their vulnerable residents. Homes are often multigenerational so it is imperative that people of all ages be protected. As you know, Hawaii is fragile in many ways, not the least being its kanaka maoli. History has shown us what has happened to too many indigenous populations and I’m sure this ingrained memory influences the Governor’s actions.
I pray the islands will regain their economic footing. I would love to visit my daughter but I understand the need for caution. Sadly, on the mainland many seem to think the virus is over and there are now surges happening that will slow economic recovery. A surge in Hawaii would be devastating.
Aloha Jeff and Rob.
Deadlines are looming and the travelling public (myself included) is getting a bit fraught! I have a September trip planned and have a kind of ‘double whammy’ because coming from Ireland, I’d have to get the international ban lifted (I guess that’s a Presidential thing) and then the Governor’s Quar antine…or might the authorities accept testing from Europe? There is also a 60-day period allowed to rebook my timeshare reservation. That window will come up in early July when the present lockdown is still in place. It’s looking increasingly like an impossibility that the Islands will be a destination this year. May I trouble you for your best guess/advice?
Mahalo for that.
Hi Michael.
Thanks for your comments. It seems like there are few answers to your concerns. And can the state of Hawaii pull together a plan within your early July decision timeframe? We hope so, but based on the lack of anything like that so far, you might not want to rely on it.
Aloha.
I did take the C0vid self swab drive thru test at Cvs May 22, it is Free, they do require you register online, and they pre screen, questionaire online, befor your drive thru appointment time. Self swab test took about 4 minutes(they speak to you over the speaker and tell you how to do the test) you may or may not be referred by your Doctor, (not required to be) I was not, self referred. Testing was easy and the swab only inserts about an inch into the nose and you control moving the swab in your nose while in your car. Test results said would be available online,and I did set up an account to view them, and it did take 6 days to see results online. I dont know how they would ever get results to folks in 3 days, so folks could cancel/re schedule their Hawaii trips? Frys is also offering free Covid test go to their little clinic website and you must preregister/screen just like cvs. Not sure if they use the long nose swab or shorter one that cvs uses. I am in AZ. We love hawaii and would love to return soon!!
If you got the Abbot “ID Now” test which is the one CVS has been using, it’s returning up to 25% false negatives, which means it’s pretty useless for screening people. Respected institutions like Yale New Haven Health and Loyola Medical won’t use it, for that reason.
What if you’ve already had the virus? Will they still make you quar antine?
My family and I are planning a trip to Hawaii at the end of July and we plan to island hop to 3 islands. Assuming we can test at home 3 days prior or our arrival on the big island, would be we able to island hop during our 10 day stay without additional testing?
Well, we just got the word: restrictions remain in place for Transpacific travel until July 31. Here’s a question: “The Hawaii Tourism Authority reported today that 1,732 passengers arrived in Hawaii on Monday. The passengers, who came on 20 flights, also included 493 residents and 100 people who planned to relocate to Hawaii. Additionally, there were 180 airline crew members and 119 transit passengers who did not plan to leave the airport. There were 192 military members. Also arriving were 119 people who were exempt from the quarantine.” Who would be the 119 people who were exempt from the quarantine? I’ve never seen any list of exemptions.